By JOSEPH NGURE
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| Athletes compete in one of the races in Eldoret town. |
The 2010 World half marathon champion Wilson Kiprop maintained his supremacy on local events by winning this year’s men Kass Marathon 12 km as new entrants caused upsets in the women races.
Fresh from winning Lisbon Half marathon last month, Kiprop lacked challenge from the gun in the shorter course dominating from the beginning on the Eldoret Airport to Eldoret town road to brush the tape in 34:36.0 for the victory.
“This is always my training route and I was sure of winning. I am currently doing well in my training and the races I have participated in this season,” said 10,000m Olympian who lives in Kapsaret area.
Before winning in Lisbon, he won the first cross-country meeting in Eldoret in September organised by Eldoret Educational resource Centre.
“I am racing in New Delhi next month and today I was gauging my speed. My prayer is to be in the World Half marathon next year if selected,” added Kiprop.
Upcoming Leonard Langat and Ndalat Gaa cross-country senior men champion Hillary Kemboi arrived second and third after timing 35:44.9 and 35:56.9. Others in the top six position included Edwin Kimurer (35:57.8), Edwin Kipyego (36:08.8) and Noah Kiprotich (36:10.4) who followed in that order.
In women’s encounter, new faces obliterated the elite class with new entrants Josephine Jepkoech and Edith Chelimo dictating the proceeding in the 12km.
The two, who trains together in Kapsabet, run tail to tail together with defending champion Joyce Chepkirui and another discovery Correty Jepkoech before Chepkirui, who ruled the roost in 2012, eased after sticking with leaders for 8 km.
The winner clocked 40:40.1 on the relatively descending course with Chelimo and Correty, all training under one coach in the cradle of athletics, registering 40:43.1 and 41:12.6.
Chepkirui timed 41:34.3 to wind up fifth while Jelagat Kiprop was fourth in 41:33.2 during the race that preceded the full marathon that started in Kapsabet earlier.
–ngure_ioc@yahoo.com
